Man carrying in pocket on bicycle shoots self

[b322da]

After speaking with a witness and reviewing security video from a nearby business, detectives determined Smith was riding his bike when a handgun in his jacket pocket discharged. http://www.kbtx.com/news/national/headl ... 59821.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Whether or not he had a CHL is not stated.

Jim

[The Wall]

Similar thing happened to an idiot that was pocket carrying without a holster. Trigger got caught up somehow and it went off. Minor injury to his leg, but had a nice hole in his car seat. Think there was a post on that one on this forum. A properly made to fit holster is a must. One that covers the trigger.

[CoffeeNut]

A holster and some trigger discipline can save a life!

[camjr]

Carrying a gun on a ride is safe if done correctly.

Personally, I carry a J Frame 642 on my rides. I typically log between 60-100 miles per week depending on the weather. The J Frame goes in a Nemesis pocket holster inside a pocket by itself in a small handlebar bag. I've affixed velcro to the holster and handlebar bag to keep the holster in there and the presentation grip-up. It's the only time I carry off-body, but the bag goes with me if I get off the bike. It holds my DL and CHL, phone, and a $20 bill in a separate pocket. I also carry a small pepper spray for 4 legged critters in a side pocket on the bag. Tools, spare tube, and a flat repair kit go in my saddle bag under the seat.

You can see the set-up I use in this pic from a ride last weekend on the greenbelt that runs between Lake Lewisville to Lake Ray Roberts in Denton Co.



Easy Peazy...

[sugar land dave]

Do not pocket or purse carry without a holster. Do not have any item except the holstered firearm in the pocket or purse pocket. No keys, no pens, nothing. Any item could work its way down into the holster and onto the trigger.

[camjr]

Do not pocket or purse carry without a holster. Do not have any item except the holstered firearm in the pocket or purse pocket. No keys, no pens, nothing. Any item could work its way down into the holster and onto the trigger.

Yup-the revolver is in a holster in a pocket of the bag by itself. Everything else that goes in the bag is in separate pockets.

[Vol Texan]

Similar thing happened to an idiot that was pocket carrying without a holster. Trigger got caught up somehow and it went off. Minor injury to his leg, but had a nice hole in his car seat. Think there was a post on that one on this forum. A properly made to fit holster is a must. One that covers the trigger.

Close, but that's not what happened. You can read the story here.

What actually happened was that the guy who shot the seat was using a holster, but the holster was all leather, and had gotten soft. The soft part of the leather creased just enough to enter the trigger guard. You can see the photos in the article.

From the story:

The trusty, comfortable, leather holster I had been using for a year and two weeks had done what a baseball glove does after lots of use; It got soft. This particular holster carries the pistol outside the waistband, but inside the belt. The belt slides through slots in the outer side of the holster.

The problem stemmed from the leather on the inner side of the holster getting soft. A crease formed, which eventually was large enough to extend beyond the trigger. Manipulate the gun in just the wrong manner and this crease is no different than a finger on the trigger. Boom!

This is not to suggest the guy was completely faultless. I still subscribe to the basic premise that there are no gun accidents, just bad gun handling. Said in another way, there is no such thing as an accidental discharge, rather the proper term should be negligent discharge (this is my own perspective, and others' perspectives may vary.)

In this case, however, the guy (a) did use a holster, (b) did, through some series of machinations of trying to holster while sitting in the car, have a discharge, and (c) owned up to it enough to share the lesson with the world so that we could learn from his mistake.

If we want to learn from the mistakes of ourselves and others, we need to correctly assess what really happened.I think it's a bit harsh calling him, "an idiot that was pocket carrying without a holster. Trigger got caught up somehow and it went off". After all, that 'idiot' may be a TexasCHLForum member - we don't know for sure.

No, it was not me.

No, really, it wasn't! But it's something I've worried about a lot, and posted here on the forum about. This type of ND was a major factor I used when selecting my EDC. I carry a SA/DA hammer fired pistol only now because it helps me avoid this problem. I can wedge the webbing of my thumb in behind the hammer and get a tactile response if the trigger begins to get pressed while I'm holstering.

[ScottDLS]

You mean you guys don't just shove it down the front of your pants barrel first (being careful to keep between outer and under garments)?

I've gotta check out these holster thingies.

[goose]

Carrying a gun on a ride is safe if done correctly.

Personally, I carry a J Frame 642 on my rides. I typically log between 60-100 miles per week depending on the weather. The J Frame goes in a Nemesis pocket holster inside a pocket by itself in a small handlebar bag. I've affixed velcro to the holster and handlebar bag to keep the holster in there and the presentation grip-up. It's the only time I carry off-body, but the bag goes with me if I get off the bike. It holds my DL and CHL, phone, and a $20 bill in a separate pocket. I also carry a small pepper spray for 4 legged critters in a side pocket on the bag. Tools, spare tube, and a flat repair kit go in my saddle bag under the seat.

You can see the set-up I use in this pic from a ride last weekend on the greenbelt that runs between Lake Lewisville to Lake Ray Roberts in Denton Co.

Easy Peazy...

I like your set-up. I have been carrying my NAA derringer revolver in a small saddlebag in a back jersey pocket. Recognizing my own habits, I am scared to death of walking away from my bike to get water or something. Would love to have something bigger on me. I have an orange G17 training pistol. I should probably work on practicing riding with it in a handlebar bag like your setup.

[camjr]

Carrying a gun on a ride is safe if done correctly.

Personally, I carry a J Frame 642 on my rides. I typically log between 60-100 miles per week depending on the weather. The J Frame goes in a Nemesis pocket holster inside a pocket by itself in a small handlebar bag. I've affixed velcro to the holster and handlebar bag to keep the holster in there and the presentation grip-up. It's the only time I carry off-body, but the bag goes with me if I get off the bike. It holds my DL and CHL, phone, and a $20 bill in a separate pocket. I also carry a small pepper spray for 4 legged critters in a side pocket on the bag. Tools, spare tube, and a flat repair kit go in my saddle bag under the seat.

You can see the set-up I use in this pic from a ride last weekend on the greenbelt that runs between Lake Lewisville to Lake Ray Roberts in Denton Co.

Easy Peazy...

I like your set-up. I have been carrying my NAA derringer revolver in a small saddlebag in a back jersey pocket. Recognizing my own habits, I am scared to death of walking away from my bike to get water or something. Would love to have something bigger on me. I have an orange G17 training pistol. I should probably work on practicing riding with it in a handlebar bag like your setup.

They key to the setup is the affixed Nemesis pocket holster in the bag that keeps the 642 secure and in a proper position (grip up/muzzle down). The bag is also small enough to keep everything snug.

I have a friend of mine that carries a Beretta Tomcat in .32acp in one of the back pockets of his cycling jerseys, covering it with a bandana to break up the printing. Personally, I would rather not have the gun on my body in the event of a crash. My handlebar bag is made by Avenir and is a solid product. It goes on and off the bike easily and doesn't look out of place if I carry the bag in somewhere since I'm probably wearing cycling gear.

Cheers!